Just need to vent

[Brittney]

I started a new job about 4 weeks ago. I was currently working, but I wanted to keep my education going, so I did an internship with a clinic here in Phoenix. Apparently they liked me, because after 6 weeks of interning there, they asked if I would like a job. I said sure and accepted and I quit my other job thinking it was for the better. Well, turns out, I traded in a full time job with benefits and large pay for a part time job with no benefits, no promotional opportunities and getting paid 9 bucks an hour. Wow, what a change, but my screw up for not asking prior to accepting and quitting the other job.

Basically I got to do everything in my internship there except for talk with clients, which I'm still not comfortable doing (Just not a people person.) I got to assist in surgeries, do dentals, give vaccines, fill prescriptions, everything under the sun pretty much. My first day working there, they shoved me to the back and told me to do kennels. This was weird because I was pretty sure they wanted me as a Tech. A week goes by and I'm still doing kennels. I ask others what my job title is and no one knows, so I go to the HR lady with my question, once again, no answer. The next week, I am allowed to shadow another Tech as to what I'm supposed to do with clients. I feel a little better because I'm actually getting to do more Tech duties. Well, with every question I ask on how to do something, I get an annoyed response in return. Pretty soon she started closing doors on me before I was even in the room to watch what she was doing with the clients. The following week, it's back in kennels. Still no answer from HR as to what my job title is.

Well this week, I finally got to help in some surgeries and give vaccines, but I'm still thrown back to the kennels when they are done using me. Today, others were talking about me, then I was told by the actual kennel attendant that they want me to start doing rooms, but they aren't sure if they should let me because it seems like I don't know what I'm doing, and that I don't ask questions when I don't know what's going on. WHAT!? When I do ask questions, I get annoyed responses back or sometimes not even an answer and a door closed in my face. Well, today I did my first room, and I wrote everything I was supposed to history wise. I thought I did pretty well for my first room on my own. Boy, did I think wrong. The doctor went into the room and was gone for a bit, then came out when I was running a fecal and asked me what "all of these scribbled jibberish letters mean" I told her and she ripped it out, threw it away and told me it was no good, and that I obviously haven't learned enough to do rooms. I about had a mental breakdown, so I excused myself and went and sat outside for a bit. I composed myself and walked back in and I was told that I could go home. I still had 4 hours left in the day, and I said thanks, but I already don't get enough hours as is, I need to stay and work because I have car insurance to pay this month. She in return told me there was no longer anything for me to do today, so there is no since in me sitting around and getting paid for it. So I left.

Now I'm completely regretting accepting this job. They say they are "training" me on how their clinic works, but that I don't ask enough questions. When I do, I don't get answers. It's really just frustrating. They have also started cutting my hours. The current HR lady has my hours as full-time, the HR lady taking over has my hours as barely part-time. I don't even think it counts as part-time. HR lady has me working 30 hours a week, new HR lady has me working 12 hours a week, and no one will answer my questions. The clinic is an hour south of my house in one direction, my new schedule is come in for an hour in the morning and an hour at night for 6 days a week. That just won't work, but they don't care. They also have me working on my graduation day, but when I tried to take it off they said "It's a Saturday, we require everyone to be here on Saturdays" Umm ok.

I seriously have no idea what to do. I'm so frustrated that I can't get my questions answered. I haven't gotten paid yet and they said I would last week, but still no check and no answer as to why I have not received it. I have no benefits anymore, and I am the clinics pooper scooper. Way to completely drop off the totem pole.

I am currently looking for another job, but with the self-esteem bash I got today, I'm just not sure I'm cut out for it anymore. Not really sure what I should do, I just don't think it's fair for them to treat me like crap because I am asking too many questions. It seems like they hired me, but they realized they couldn't afford me. I just don't know what to do anymore.

 

[eroomlorac]

I would see if I could get my old job back.

 

[greychins]

Wow. I don't have a solution, but I just wanted to say, that sounds so frustrating! Good luck with whatever you choose to do...

 

[SusieJJ]

I would also see if I could get my old job back! Or at least contact them for a good reference.. Sounds as if this clinic is a bit crazy

 

[VolunteerChin22]

First - that stinks. And yes I think you should have clarified what you would be doing but that's wrong of them to just throw you in the back like that after you having been there for 6 weeks as an intern. Second, you have a right to be paid on a certain schedule - if they do not comply with that you can and should complain to the labor board. They have to pay you on the agreed upon payday or they can get into legal trouble. Look into exactly who you need to contact...probably a state agency. Keep a record of what's going on when you ask about it.

If you left your other job on good terms I would definately contact them and tell them this position is not working out and ask if they have filled your position already. If it's not possible to go back you need to move on and find something else. I would not expect this situation to get better and frankly, I have worked at enough places to recognize when they are trying to make you quit and that's exactly what is going on here. For whatever reason, I dont know if you stepped on some toes or what but apparently they are trying to make things miserable for you so they dont have to let you go, imo. Sorry to hear things are going so poorly but I would get paid and get out!!

 

[alli713]

This is why you need to be sure of what job you are accepting is. Don't just accept a job without going over what you'll be doing, and agreeing upon a wage. When you get a job offer you need to discuss your wage and what you feel is fair or else they will pay you the minimum they can.

If it were me I'd quit and get a job closer to home even if it's not what you want to do for the time being, because it really sounds like they're just using you.

 

[BooBoo*TheKiddo*]

Wow, that sucks. Sorry they are treating you like crap.

I'd see if you could get you old job back, if you left on good terms. Or even something in that clinic. Even if it is kennels, at least until you can move up to something else.

If not, I'd continue to work that job and do what they tell you too and try to find another job. If you up and quit, then you're even more out because you wont have any money coming in.

Good luck and keep us updated

 

[caiti]

That's a bummer. I'm so sorry. I was in a somewhat similar situation at a vet hospital when I was fresh out of high school. I didn't really like talking to the clients but obviously it's what I did a lot of. I really didn't learn anything from them veterinary-wise because they were too busy even though I was supposed to be trained also. Apparently, I did things too slow they fired me 3-4 weeks after I started. The only warning I got was a co-worker politely told me that she tries to mop the floor quicker so she can get home early.

It sounds like they just don't know how to be good bosses, like the people I worked for. They were nice people they just expected me to read their minds and obviously I couldn't. But the people you work for maybe don't sound like awesome people. I don't know, it could just be they don't know how to deal with employees either.

Honestly, I would think about setting up a meeting with them. Even if you plan on quitting, at least you can let them know you tried and try to clear the air with the misunderstandings (why they think you don't ask enough questions etc). It all depends what kind of people they are, though. If you think a meeting will backfire and they'll end up thinking you're a whiner and fire you, I would just look for another job.

Try not to take it personally. Some people just do not know how to treat employees considerably. It sounds like deep down, you know you are trying your best and doing a good job. Just don't forget that.

 

[Spoof]

I would also ask for your old job back - it never hurts to ask! I'm sorry to hear they're pulling this crap on new hires.

A big clue to me in your story is "new hr person" - if they are turning over staff like that you don't want to work there.

I had a similar experience when I applied to a vet hospital in high school. Minimum wage was $5.50, I was (and expected to be) the pooper-scooper. The second day they wanted me to step up and be a tech assistant, do x-rays, help with surgeries - which I did. At the end of the day they gave me my "contract" and my pay was written as only $4.00! I said what?? They told me that it was rare to get an internship and I should take it or leave it because there was 20 others that had applied. I said no thanks and bailed. I never did get paid for the time I put in there. Live and learn, I was only 15.

Having vet friends going through college I found that this was really common in the industry.

Good luck!

 

[Riven]

Talk to the person in charge at the new clinic, and ask your old employer for your job back. If you really want to sweeten up your old boss, tell them you didn't realize how great you had it there.

At the new clinic, I'd tell them you're about to get your license and when you do that you'll require tech salary if you're cleaning kennels or not. It may not be glorious but kennels is one of the most important jobs... and most people do a crappy job doing it.

 

[Brittany_Lynn]

I think you should use what you explained to us as a starting board, and draft up a very detailed, polite explanation of everything that has happened while you worked there, with as much evidence as possible. Make it VERY VERY VERY detailed, and then ask to sit down with the HR people and the lead vet person for a meeting. If they refuse or "don't have time", make copies and send them to all of them or hand them out, and ask them to please point out what it was you did wrong, and what it is they expect from you in those situations, rather than what you did do, and return the papers to you after they're done.
This will hopefully get them to realize what ****ty bosses they're being. Or maybe they'll be jerks again, and you can quit. I'm a very short tempered person, forgive me if my suggestion seems harsh.

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

Sounds like what happen to my granddaughter when a new 'office manager' came on board at the vet she worked for. They were making her absolutely miserable to make her quit. Unfortunately that is what she did before getting another job. It took her a year to get a decent job because of the econony. Don't quit until you find another job but do 'get out of there'. My granddaughter was lucky in a way, the office manager said something that even the unemployment people thought was not right. She was given unemployment monies because she 'was made to quit because of intolerable conditions'.

 

[Brittney]

So, as of today I am fired/I quit.

I was pulled aside today and told that I'm not working as efficiently as I was before. Since I have first posted this, I have gone from nurse, to assistant, to kennel nurse, to kennel assistant. In conjunction I have taken a $100 pay cut and have gotten my hours cut in half. I was basically told that I suck at my job and that I wasn't learning fast enough. Well, it's pretty hard to learn when you keep being thrown into kennels when it's time to learn. I was told I could work as a kennel assistant and learn on my off days and not be paid for it or I could leave. I don't make enough there for me to drive out there to learn and not be paid for it. I started crying because it was a huge ego blow, and the HR lady just kept laughing at everything she or I said. So I left. I left crying which is never good, walked out in front of clients balling which isn't good, but I don't care. I don't deserve to be treated like crap, so I left. Now onto the job searching wagon again.

 

[AZChins]

I'm sorry. It's their loss... You'll find something! You're Brittney...you'll find something better!!

 

[caiti]

Aw, I'm so sorry. I don't know what it is, but that situation seems to happen frequently to people trying to get into jobs at a veterinary office.

When I got fired, for not being efficient enough either (I took too long cleaning), it took everything to make it to my car where I broke down and cried. Which was kind of moot because I had looked like I was crying already since I had been the entire previous night after being dumped, that was a banner week for me to say the least, ha!! I understand the devastation of both not being able to have a job with animals and having your expectations of bosses/administration completely unsatisfied.

Frankly, you're probably a lot better off. I mean at least you can end the cycle of perpetual frustration with them. They don't sound like they handle employees well, especially that HR person who was laughing. Yeeeaaaa, that kind of makes me want to smack someone upside the head a little bit. Just a little. I think you can find something you're much happier with. Good luck!!!

 

[ErinsChins]

Why can't humans be as loving as animals?

I'm sure you'll find something better, just hang in there!